Sassou-Nguesso. Ngouélondélé, etc. If you are an adept of Rumba music, these names will be familiar to you. These are politicians from the Republic of Congo, popularly known as Congo, Brazza (to not be confused with DRC- Democratic Republic of Congo, popularly known as Congo, Kinshasa.) They are trending in African pop news because the grandson of sitting President Sassou-Nguesso, just married a sublime woman of Rwandan heritage who in pure Rwando-Congolese fashion, wore a Gitenge gown with beaded lace top and large train. MWASI KITOKO — Heureux Ménage!
One cannot speak of Rumba without speaking of Koffi Olomidé, the uncontestable Giant of African Music, King of “Tcha-Tcho”, Père de la Sape! With a RELEVANT 5-decade long career, he is the first African artist to sell out Bercy Arena in Paris and the literal mentor to all your favs (Fally, Fere etc.) When I was 15, I skipped class for the first time in my life to welcome him to Kigali Airport, only to get there and be captured on TV by a local news crew. Had to quickly ring my father and confess my sins before he spotted me on the evening news. (Video below) I was a good student, so dad was more amused than angry. I had the pleasure of watching Koffi perform again in Atlanta in 2022. In fact, I almost became a Rumba martyr/sacrificial lamb, when I shared with a Nigerian that Olomide’s musical influence was in my view, equal to if not larger than Fela Kuti. I explained that the man had us in a Lingala chokehold for decades and none of us even speak lingala. Imagine being able to transcend the international scene while ONLY singing in your mother tongue. The man is a living legend… I have since learned, Fela is a bit of god in Nigeria. I say all this to say, I have always been an avid Koffi-philette. Lately though, I must confess it is becoming increasingly difficult, je le suis malgré moi…The problem is, l’homme est sans scrupule (the man is without shame). Koffi has officially left his wife of 3 decades for a long-term mistress/backup singer of his. Which; nothing new there. Marriage is no indentured servitude, by all means free yourself if you must. BUT do so with decendy. The new lovebirds refuse to let us rest. Every week that God makes, they release a love song. The most annoying part being, it’s always a hit. Fix it Jesus.
His daughter, la Bellissime Didi Stone (pictured below), once “la prunelle de ses yeux” (apple of his eye) will not hesitate to drag him. Being a daddy’s girl myself, I cannot rejoice in the deterioration of a father-daughter duo. Koffi and his daughter have always been close. He’s been singing “Didi Stone” since she was a baby. Nevertheless, I do support the decision of his daughter to occasionally call him out! Truth is sometimes a man needs a bit of shaking…
Cindy, toi meme vraiment, c’est pas la peine, how does one maintain mistress status for 2 decades? Reine Mère, Queen Mother, Mama Aliane, I salute you. We all aspire to have that much poise in dealing with degenerate men, but truth is we are likely closer to the girl who divorced her husband on IG, released a perfume and named it “Divorce”.
As to the African community at large, that insist these things are our way of life. Spare me with the “King Salomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines” BS. Renaissance. Industrial Revolution. Technology Era… Rings a Bell? Every aspect of life has changed but you wish to keep the gender topic in 970 BCE. Nah, babe.
Team Didi Stone, period. Courage ma soeur!
Love,
Liv
LawyerLiv & Co. 
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